Tribune CEO orders $100 million in cuts: report

Tribune Co. CEO Peter Liguori called for $100 million in cost cuts at the Chicago company's publishing unit in a meeting with top executives this week, according to a blog report, citing sources familiar with the orders.

Mr. Liguori didn't specify how the cuts should be made in the meeting Sept. 25 with vice presidents, but said the company is seeking to start implementing the cost reductions by Dec. 1, reported media blogger Robert Feder, who is affiliated with the Tribune. The cuts will affect all areas of the publishing operation, including newsrooms, the report said.

Tribune owns the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and the Baltimore Sun, among other daily newspapers.

The company, which also owns broadcast operations including WGN-TV and WGN Radio, earlier this year said it would spin off the newspaper group into a separate company. The move was aimed at allowing the creditor-owners who took control of the company when it emerged from bankruptcy this year to focus their efforts on the more profitable local TV broadcast side of the business.